Tag Archives: South San Luis Obispo

Santa Lucia Wilderness

RanchesAG
Rancho Arroyo Grande, California

Santa Lucia Wilderness

South San Luis Obispo Hiking Trails

18, 679 acres
Central California Mountains
East of Arroyo Grande, CA
US Highway 101
exit #187A – Grand Ave

backpacking, camping, creek fishing, hiking, swimming holes, waterfalls

Santa Lucia Wilderness is the mountain range in between Santa Margarita Lake and Lake Lopez inside Los Padres National Forest, in a very remote and rugged portion of San Luis Obispo county. In the hills behind Arroyo Grande, past the Huasna turn off, above the local reservoir, beyond the big ranches – the waterfall trails of Santa Lucia can be found. Super steep canyons with only two dead end roads leading to trails. Waterfalls, swimming holes, way back there behind Piney Ridge.

tallest mountain peak elevations

  • Bald Mountain – 2834′
  • Lopez Mountain – 2868′
  • Black Butte – 2749′

Upper Lopez Canyon can be challenging drive with water in the creek, but it has 3 trailheads back in this canyon.

Pozo Road / Hi Mtn Road (#30S05 on the way to Pozo) will lead to a Santa Lucia trailhead @ Hi Mtn Campground and on to Big Falls trailhead. Locals call the whole route POZO, which leads from Lake Lopez to Pozo.

Road #15E11 Garcia Ridge OHV trail is off this same main route, Hi Mountain Road. The Rinconada trailhead can be found along the paved Pozo Road, west of the Pozo Saloon and east of the KOA Campground.

San Luis Obispo Area
HIKING MAPS

NGLPNFW

Los Padres Big Sur Map

The Plunge Pool